The Rector Rectified, To the reader
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
IT grieves and afflicts my very Soul to ſee ſuch Strifes, Animoſities and Bitterneſs of Spirit amongſt Chriſtians, becauſe of that Difference there is amongſt us in reſpect of ſome Truths of Jeſus Chriſt, in a time when we are all threatned by the common Enemy. I am afraid it is the Fore-runner of a diſmal Hour which is coming upon us: But indeed, of all who have of late come forth againſt us, called Anabaptiſts, none have ſhewed a worſer Spirit than this Mr. Burkit, who writes himſelf Rector of Mildin in Suffolk: and that which troubles me the more, is what I have lately heard (by a worthy Gentleman) concerning him, i. e. That he is look'd upon as a ſober Perſon, and one alſo well affected to the preſent Government: would all his Brethren in that reſpect were like-minded. But in this Attempt of his, I know not what he aims at. Should we not all unite together in Love and Affection, and ſtrive to promote Peace and Concord, and not tear one another in pieces after this manner? I am ſure this cannot tend to the Honour of God which he has done, nor to the Service of the Church or State: but we have been provoked by him to vindicate our ſelves, and therefore none who are unprejudiced can blame us. Should we ſuffer our ſelves to be loaded with Reproach and Infamy, and not endeavour (in a juſt way) to clear our ſelves, and that Truth of Chriſt we are ſo well eſtabliſhed in, from the certain Teſtimony of the ſacred Scripture? and muſt we be expoſed (for making God's Word our only Rule herein) as a corrupt and erronious ſort of People, becauſe we affirm from thence, Believers only are the true Subjects of Baptiſm, and that Baptizing is Dipping, and not Rantiſing; eſpecially ſince ('tis well known) in all the Articles of Religion we are acknowledged to be ſound and orthodox, and that by our Adverſ…ries themſelves: only this is the out-cry, you deny Infant-Baptiſm. The reaſon of which, Reader, thou wilt ſee if thou doſt but weigh well what is ſaid in the enſuing Treatiſe.
And now to you my Brethren, who own this deſpiſed Truth of Chriſt, viz. The Baptiſm of Believers; let me give you one Caution, i. e. Take heed you are not aſhamed of Chriſt, or to own his holy Appointment, or his Servants, becauſe reproached by ill Men, or others through undue Prejudice; left Chriſt be aſhamed of you, when he comes at the laſt Day in the Glory of the Father with all his holy Angels.
Reader, there are two things I would deſire thee to note; Firſt, That I have repeated ſome of my Anſwers to Mr. Burkit often; partly becauſe he repeats the ſame Arguments, and partly becauſe I would indeavour to make it clearly to appear, that many, or moſt of his Arguments he brings to prove Infants ought to be baptized, do as fully, and as apparently tend to prove Infants ought to receive the Lord's Supper; therefore I have drawn almoſt upon every like Occaſion, the ſame Inferences for that, as he hath for the other; which I intreat you to conſider well of.
Secondly; Whereas you will find both Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, Dutch, (as well as Engliſh) made uſe of (other more or leſs,) in the inſuing Anſwer. I would not have you think, I underſtand all thoſe Languages; but I have had the Aſſi…tance of a Learned Perſon, (tho in that caſe only) who is my Friend and Acquaintance, that ſo the Work might the more fully and effectually be done. I'll ſay no more, but leave it to the Bleſſing of God, and thy ſerious Examination; and remain yours in the Lord's Service, in the Work of the Goſpel,
Benjamin Keach. From my Houſe near Horſly-down, Southwark, May 12, 1692.